Automatic glare shield



Nv.3o,1937;` l si BLOCKER .l 2,100,427-

A`UTQMATIC' GLARE SHIELD Filed sept. 2o, 19:55' A 2 sheets-sheet 1 Novf 30,1937. s'. J. BLoCKl-:R

' AUTOMATIIC GLLARE SHIELD Filed Spt. 20, 1935 2 She-etS-Sheet 2 IIIIIIJII Patented Nov. 30, 1-937" UNITED Y STATES PATENT OFFICE- 2,100,427 AUTGMATIC GLARE SHIELD samuel e. Bleeker, Dalles, '.rex. Application September 20, 1935, Serial No. 41,457

M y invention relates to glare shields for vehicles and has particular reference to glare shields for automobiles and the like.

An object of my invention is to provide a fluid or motor operated glare shield which will automatically swing into position when a switch is closed or a valve is opened and .which will return to its original position when thevalve is closed.

A further object is to provide means for selectively positioning the shield at any desired angle.

A further object is to provide means whereby the shield may be permanently maintained in a selected position.

A further object is to provide a glare shield of the character described which comprises a. simply constructed, compact and comparatively inexpensive device which is vcapable of easy attachment to the vehicle, and wherein a rock shaft is provided having a combined bearing and actu ator vane. f

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the invention, combination and arrangement of the several parts, and in the particular mode of operation, all of which will be readilyapparent to those skilled `in the art upon reference to the drawings in conjunction with the detailed description to follow, which forms a part of this specification.

In the drawingsz- Figure 1 represents a. perspective view of the now preferred form of my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged end view thereof taken from the left end of Figure 1; v

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but taken from the opposite end of the device; t

Figure i is an end view of a modified form of construction; s

Figure 5 is a front view of the modication; Figure 6 is a vertical section substantially on the line S-S of Figure 5.

Referring again to the drawings, wherein like reference characters have been used throughout to designate like parts, M represents a motor tended to one side as at casing having a base I3 adapted for attachment to a suitable support, such as the body frame above the Windshield. The motor shaft is ex- Ill and a hollow tubing Id is rigidly connected thereto by anyusuitable means such as the set screw bf I2. 'Rf'adially extending arms I 6 having slotsj-i therein are rigid1y attached to the houew shaft la inenyff suitable manner. A.'glare shield 26 is provided" having upwardly extending arms 24 which carry headed studs 22 which 'in turn seat in the slots I8 of the arms I6. The upper ends of thel arms 24 are provided with threaded studs I9 which extend through the slots I8 ofthe arms I6. Wing nuts 2i! are carried by the threaded stud and serve to adjustably position theglare shield 26 with respect to the line of visionl of the oper- 5 ator of the vehicle.

The motor casing M on one side thereof carries a stud 40 to which is attached one end 4| of a coil spring S. The coil spring S is coiled around the shaft extension Illand the inner en'd l0 42 of the spring is passed through said shaft or otherwise suitablyconnected to it. The spring S is tensioned to resist the rotation of the motor shaft when the vmotor is operated and rotates the shaft in the opposite direction when the 15 motor` is cut olf.

On the other side of the motor casing M the motor shaft is extended as at II and carries a radial pin 30 which is rigidlyv connected thereto. Stops 34 and 32 are threadedly connected to the 20 motor casing in threaded apertures 35 and '3| which are arcuately arranged in the side wall of the motor casing. An inspection of Figure 2 makes it readily apparent that by positioning stops 32 and 313 in selected apertures 3l and 35, 25 respectively, the limit of movement of the motor shaft and, consequently, the glare shield can be regulated to any desired degree and the lshield can be stopped atA any desired angle. A threaded bolt 38 having a hooked end 36 is carried by 30 threaded bosses I5 on the sameside wall of the motor casing as is the shaft extension II.v The purpose of the bolt v38 is to maintain the shaft and glare shield in a selected position to prevent them'from being returned to their original 35 position by means of the' action of the spring S.

The operation of the devicevis as follows:

The motor within M is connected to a suitable source of power (not shown) and has an operating switch (not shown) conveniently located 40 in any desirable place adjacent the drivers seat. Normally the glare shield is carried in a position substantially as 'shown by the dotted lines in Figure l. When the switch is closed the motor rotates in ,a clockwise direction, as viewed in'Fig- 45 ure 2, against the action of tli'espring Suntil the radial arm 30, engages the stop 34 and pre- Whenv the switch is opened the motor is cut olf and can no longer overcome' the action ofthe 50' spring S which automatically returns the glare vshield to its original position-which position can bejregulated by means of the stop 32 which limits the-return rotation of the motor shaft. When driving at night against .heavy traiiic or. when` the return rotation'of the sh also acts to permit the .driving into the sun,

driving' at nigh. in light or at any other time when it is desiredkto maintain the glare shield in operative position for longer the switch is closed as usual and the shield is swung into position. The hooked end of the bolt 38 is positioned over the free end of the radial arm 30 and the switch opened. This prevents ft' and maintains the glare shield in any desired operative position.

While I have shown a threadedmember 88 having a hooked end for this purpose, it isV obvious that any number of equally efficacious means, such as a spring or ratchet member, might be employed to'achieve this result. However, by providing such a device I amv enabled to have an automatic glare shield which, lat the same time, can be maintained in operative position as long as desired without subjecting the car battery to an undue drain by means of the continued operation of the motor. On the other hand, when trafc it is a simple matter to close the s'witch and maintain the glare shield in operative position for the few seconds necessary to pass anapproaching car. Then, when the switch is released the glare shield automatically returns to its original p osition. Probably, the most convenient location for the switch would be upon the steering wheel in which event it would be unnecessary for the operator to remove his hands therefrom to actuate the device. However, the switch might be equally eflicacious when placed in another position such as on the oor or adjacent the operators elbow.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, I have substituted a vacuum chamber |00 for the motor M. The vacuum chamber |00 may be of semi-cylindrical form and has a vane |02 having a shaft |0| journaled in the oor |04 andv side walls thereof as at |03. 'Ihe flat floor |04 of the chamber is provided with ports |00 and |01,- the latter having connected thereto a conduit |08 which is connected to the exhaust or intake manifold of the engine. However, the conduit |08 has a portion thereof located convenient to the driver and a multi-way valve |00 inserted in the conduit.

A` spring S' operates the extended shaft |0| and sleeve |42 which carries the glare shield (not shown) .and tends to retain the glare shield in an inoperative position. In this position the vane .|02 is normally in the position shown in the full lines in Figure' 6. sires to utilize the glare shiel'dhefturns the valve |00 to permit an open connection with the engine manifold. This causes a suction in the conduit |08 and a vacuum in the vacuum chamber |00. This causes the vane |02 to swingV to the position shown by the dotted lines in Figure 6 against the action of the spring S.

The opening |06 behind the v ane permits it to yieldreadily to the pull of the vacuum and air drawn therethrough than a few seconds,A

When the operator de-l to act as a cushion when the spring returns the vane to its operative position.

When the operator wishes to return the shield to 'an inoperative position, he turns the multiway valve |09 so that communication between a port I0 andthe conduit |08 is established. This breaks the vacuum previously created ahead of the ap valve |02 and permits the spring S'to rotate the shaft |0| in a reverse direction to'return the glare shield to an inoperative position.

The thumb screw ||2 which engages an extended portion of the shaft l|0| is used to lock the shield in either the operative or inoperative position when the device is to be retained in the selected position semi-permanently.

Figures 4 and 5 it is also pointed out that the engaging the curved Wall of the chamber provided by casing |00 so as to maintain the shaft |0| seated in its bearings and in the seat provided in the wall |04 of the casing for the intermediate portion of shaft |0|. The weight of the extended portion of the shaft "and the shield will be considerable and the vane or piston |02 therefore -not only holds the shaft against axial movement in its bearings but also tends to prevent transverse wear which ultimately results in shattering.

I claim:-

A motor for operating motor vehicle glare shields and the like, said motor comprising a substantially semi-cylindrical casing having end walls, av rock shaft for said motor, the ends of said shaft extending outwardly of the casing 35v through openings in said end walls thereof, the floor of said casing between said openings being formed to provide a bearing seat for said shaft, a vane rigidly carried by said shaft within said casing, said vane having a fluid-tight engagement with said end walls and the cylindrical top of said casing, a fluid line connection in the oor of said casing at one side of said shaft to provide means for actuatingsaid vane in one direction, the door of said .casing on the other side of said shaft being formed to providean opening therein for the maintenance of atmospheric pressure in said casing-on that side of said vane, a coil spring about one extended end of said shaft and anchored thereto and to the adjacent end wall of said casing and tending to actuate said shaft and vane in the other direction, the portion of the other end wall of 'said casing through which said other end of said shaft extends being formed to provide a boss, a set screw threaded in said boss and movable to engage said shaft extension whereby to/lock said shaft andvane in a selected position, and a side -portion ofsaid casing being formed to provide means for attaching said casing to a plane surface with said bottom at right angles to said surface.

v SAMUEL J. BLOCKER.

In respect to the form of invention shown in 

